Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia

This release has ceased

Contains final estimates of gross and local values of production of principal agricultural commodities for Australia, states and territories

Reference period

2021-22 financial year

Released

17/01/2023

Next release Ceased

Key statistics

The gross value of wheat increased 33% to $13 billion in 2021-22
The gross value of canola doubled to $6 billion
The gross value of livestock disposals increased 12% to $25 billion
The gross value of livestock products increased 7% to $9 billion

Final issue of Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia

This is the final issue of Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia and contains estimates for 2021-22. For more recent estimates please refer to the following publications:

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is continuing to produce agricultural statistics, including key estimates for agricultural commodities through greater use of existing data sources and new methods developed in partnership with industry, academia and government. These changes were outlined in early 2023 in Modernising ABS Agriculture Statistics which explained why the ABS is modernising its Agriculture Statistics Program and the guiding principles being followed.

Reduced set of value statistics

A reduced set of agricultural value statistics is available for the 2021-22 financial year. This is due to lower quality responses to the Rural Environment and Agricultural Commodities Survey, a major data input to this publication. More information is outlined in Changes in this and forthcoming issues.

Value of crops

The second year of La Nina conditions resulted in a mixed season for broadacre and horticultural crop production in the eastern states. Flooding across areas of New South Wales and Queensland from November into December 2021 affected the growth and harvesting of many winter crops while South Australia and Victoria experienced destructive hailstorms in January 2022.

In comparison to the eastern states, Western Australia experienced improved soil moisture levels and highly favourable growing conditions during 2021-22 resulting a bumper harvest for the state's broadacre crops, notably wheat and canola crops.

Key crop results for 2021-22:

$13.1 billion for wheat (up 33% from 2020-21)
$6.0 billion for canola (up 105%)
$4.4 billion for barley (up 17%)
$4.2 billion for cotton (up 186%)
$853 million for grapes for wine production (down 30%)
$793 million for almonds (up 26%)
$699 million for potatoes (down 11%)

Value of wheat, $ (millions)
	Wheat ($ millions)
2016-17	7,365.8
2017-18	5,695.1
2018-19	6,187.2
2019-20	4,947.8
2020-21	9,851.0
2021-22	13,144.0

Value of wheat, $ (millions)

["","Wheat"]

[["2016-17","2017-18","2018-19","2019-20","2020-21","2021-22"],[[7365.8000000000002],[5695.1000000000004],[6187.1999999999998],[4947.8000000000002],[9851],[13144]]]

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Livestock disposals and livestock products

The gross value of livestock disposals increased 12% to $25 billion in 2021-22. Graziers used the improved seasonal conditions and better pastures as an opportunity to rebuild their stocks which has resulted in tighter supply for meat producers and increased prices.

Key livestock results for 2020-21:

$15.3 billion for cattle and calves (up 14% from 2020-21)
$4.9 billion for sheep and lambs (up 14%)
$3.2 billion for poultry (up 9%)
$1.6 billion for pigs (up 1%)
$9.1 billion for livestock products such as wool, milk and eggs (up 7%)

Value of livestock disposals and livestock products, $ (millions)
	Cattle & Calves ($ millions)	Sheep & Lambs ($ millions)	Poultry ($ millions)	Pigs ($ millions)	Livestock products ($ millions)
2016-17	12,139.3	3,564.8	2,728.9	1,342.0	7,972.2
2017-18	12,019.8	3,970.7	2,682.8	1,145.8	9,578.6
2018-19	12,827.8	4,177.1	2,774.6	1,221.7	9,596.9
2019-20	14,570.6	4,836.7	2,826.6	1,519.1	8,455.7
2020-21	13,465.4	4,332.3	2,926.6	1,556.6	8,457.1
2021-22	15,321.4	4,930.2	3,178.4	1,565.2	9,068.8

Value of livestock disposals and livestock products, $ (millions)

["","Cattle & Calves","Sheep & Lambs","Poultry","Pigs","Livestock products"]

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Thank you for participating

The ABS thanks all businesses who completed ABS agricultural surveys in 2021 and 2022 either online or using a paper form. Wholesalers, brokers, manufacturers, transport companies, auctioneers and agricultural businesses gave their time to share valuable information about their business operations and we have used that information to build a rich picture of the size and value of the agricultural sector in Australia.

Changes in this and forthcoming issues

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Continuing outbreaks of COVID-19 infections in 2021-22 impacted jurisdictions across Australia. For statistics and research products to help understand the impacts of COVID-19 on Australians and the economy see the ABS' Measuring the impacts of COVID-19 page on our website.

Reduced set of agricultural statistics for 2021-22

The quality of responses to the 2021-22 Rural Environment and Agricultural Commodities Survey was lower than required to produce a full set of regional agricultural statistics. Consequently, this release contains a reduced set of agricultural value statistics at the national, state and territory levels.

Modernising ABS’ Agricultural Statistics

The ABS will no longer undertake large agricultural surveys, including the annual Rural Environment and Agricultural Commodities Survey and the 5 yearly Agricultural Census.

Instead, the ABS will use existing data from government, industry, and commercial sources to produce official agricultural statistics for the 2022-23 financial year onwards. These existing data sources will be complemented by a small number of short surveys of agricultural businesses.

This new approach to producing agricultural statistics aims to reduce reporting burden on farmers and increase the range and regional detail of agricultural statistics.

An information paper outlining further detail about how the ABS is approaching the production of official agricultural statistics will be released on the ABS website in early 2023.

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